Arènes de Lutèce

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This is the Arènes de Lutèce /aʁɛn də lytɛs/ (Lutetian Arena), one of the oldest structures in Paris. The open arena, located near the Université Paris VI-Paris VII Pierre et Marie Curie (the physics faculty of the University of Paris) was built in the first century AD and originally could hold more than 10,000 people. Once a major sports venue for the city under the Romans (gladiators, lions, etc.), the arena fell into disuse over the centuries and was eventually buried as structures were built on top of it. The arena was rediscovered a millennium later, but by the time it could be seriously restored, part of it had been permanently destroyed during the course of new construction. What you see here is what's left.

You are looking northwest in this photograph, which was taken in the afternoon. Just to the upper left of the oval arena itself, you can see the remains of the pens that held animals back in the olden days; today there are benches in these enclosures and people can sit there and read, or relax, or whatever.

Photographed on June 16, 2001.